RPCV Art Review Section

In the Spotlight:

American Menu, a mind-shaking play

It was something about the name of the play (American Menu), the topic (civil rights issues of the 60’s), and the setting (five African-American women working in the back kitchen of a segregated diner) that drew a group of MPCA members to meet at the New Federal Theatre in downtown New York City to see the play.

What would these female characters tell us about a day in the life of an African-American woman working in Texas in May 1968—a month after the assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr., and a month before the assassination of Robert F. Kennedy? I knew they would have plenty to say.

A senseless death of a young boy, and his body being found in one of the woman’s backyard, began an examination of all of the women’s lives. “During this time in history, we did not have basic human rights to prevent these things from happening in our lives,” explained Don Wilson Glenn, the playwright. “I wanted the audience to connect all the women’s stories together. It’s an extremely hot day, two weeks after the death of M.L.K., and a body is found outside of one of the woman’s homes. Everybody’s story collides. They’re all so anxious because of these elements that everybody has to tell their story today.”

American Menu will be part of the National Black Theatre Festival in Winston-Salem, North Carolina from August 4—9, 2003. Don’t miss it! The play is one of five plays that make up American Cycle. Glenn described these plays as, “all American stories of the African-American experience.” Look for these stories in your area theatres.

By RPCV Lyra Alicea,

MPCA-NY, NJ

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